Triplets in the Owl Wood

Our little patch of woodland is known in 'Blogland'   as   Owl Wood.      That's not the name you will find on any map of the area, but there are three very good reasons why we call it that.  

These three little Tawny owlets were hatched there, a few years ago.

This is one of the licensed 'owl men' who came to weigh and ring the little owlets.   We felt like proud parents!

This is how they looked the first time they were removed and recorded - we felt so privileged to be able to watch this happening.

A short time later they had grown to this size and looked so much more ... fluffy!

Eventually, they grew to look like this - so beautiful!

Each evening, as I take Dobson out for his final walk, I hear the owls calling round and about and I often wonder whether they could possibly be descendants of one of our owls.  

Since that time the owl box has been home to Magpies and squirrels, but the Tawny Owls seem to avoid it.    We keep our fingers crossed, perhaps one Spring the 'To Let' sign will attract them back again.

Unfortunately, Owl Wood has become home to far too many rats, no doubt attracted by the hens food.     We cannot risk poison, of any kind,  so we are having to resort to other methods.

Life and death in a small patch of woodland.


(Linda of  local-kiwi-alien this one is for you.)